Don BRADMAN (26) said, ‘When you play test cricket you don’t give Englishmen an inch’. The other unclued lights are: CUMMINS (12), URN (27), ASHES (13), and STOKES (32). AUS/ENG, in the seventh row, should be highlighted. The title is taken from the same Bradman quotation. First prize Roger Mills, Emsworth, Hants Runners-up Nigel Finlay,
‘THE HORROR! THE HORROR!’ (4D/18A/3D) is a quotation from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, author of THE SECRET AGENT (9D). The protagonists are MARLOW (31D) and KURTZ (21A) and the tale was told in a YAWL (24A) called NELLIE (26D). Title: abbr. KN = heart of DARKNESS. First prize James Smalley, Walthamstow, London E17
The unclued lights yield five phrases in German, all listed in one of the appendices in Chambers 13th edition: 1A, 17&31, 19D&18A, 37&30 and 43&29. First prize Diane Saxon, Stockport Runners-up Patrick Macdougall, London SW6; Martin Plews and Anne Greenwood, Horsham, W. Sussex
The unclued lights are first names of authors known by their initials: W.H. Auden (31), A.S. Byatt (40,2), T.S. Eliot (7,10), C.S. Lewis (35,6A) and P.G. Wodehouse (34,4). First prize Marcus Clissold-Lesser, Ramsgate, Kent Runners-up Jenny Mitchell, Croscombe, Somerset; Alison Gillam, Knotty Green, Buckinghamshire
The unclued lights (including the pair at 4/41) are the friends of Winnie-the-Pooh in the books by A.A. Milne. First prize Fred Rainbow, Birmingham Runners-up Adam McNaney, Oxford; Val Urquhart, Butcombe, Somerset
The unclued lights are F1 RACE TRACKS which include the pairs at 15 & 16 and 36 & 26. First prize Christine Rees, Cowlinge, Suffolk Runners-up Dorothy Mulvenna, Bay Horse, Lancaster; Richard Lawn, Coventry
The combined fleets of France and Spain met that of England at TRAFALGAR (13) on 21 October 1805. Vice-Admirals NELSON (30) in the VICTORY (27), and COLLINGWOOD (16dn) faced Vice-Admiral VILLENEUVE (19), in the BUCENTAURE (12), and Admiral GRAVINA (22). A COLUMN was later erected in Nelson’s honour. First prize Jamie Thomson, Hungerford, Berks Runners-up
The eight unclued lights comprise four symmetrically placed ‘cycling pairs’, as cryptically hinted at by the title. First prize Abi Williams, Newton Abbot Runners-up Richard Warren, Coventry; Pam Bealby, Stockton on Tees
The WORD-BUILDING series is: eat (40A), tare (8D), cater (37A), recant (11A), certain (27A), canister (2D), nectaries (3D), transience (19D), incinerates (1A). First prize Christine Rees, Cowlinge, Suffolk Runners-up Mark Humble, Beercrocombe, Taunton; Graham Westmore, Sibsey, Lincs
Unclued lights are pairs of words as referred to in the UK and US: 1A/28, 10/26D, 14/40, 24/41 and 36/7. First prize Jeremiah Carter, Cambridge Runners-up Geoffrey Goddard, Hastingwood, Essex; Lucy Robinson, Oxford
‘SWEAR’ ( 31D) is uttered thrice by the ghost of King HAMLET (3D) who was the victim of ‘MURDER MOST FOUL’ (37A/34D/9D) where his FRUIT (14A) grew (his orchard). His son, whose tragic friend was OPHELIA (36A), addresses the ghost as ‘OLD MOLE’ (18D). See Hamlet I.v.145-162. First prize Cathy Staveley, London SW15 Runners-up Mick
The list of 21 letters comprises abbreviations, listed in Chambers. First prize Alan Norman, Impington, Cambridge Runners-up Peter Chapman, Edinburgh; David Tatarata, London WC1N
Unclued lights all follow MAGIC. (41A MOUNTAIN and 42A FLUTE should be preceded by ‘The’). First prize Ronnie Hind, Llandygwydd, Cardigan Runners-up Deirdre Hartz, Medstead, Hampshire; Stephen Rice, London SW1
MADRIGAL (the compiler) is linked by MAD (completing words phrases: BRAINED, COW DISEASE and WORT), RIG (meanings: SWINDLE, EQUIP and ARTIC) and AL (abbreviation for: ALABAMA, ALUMINIUM and ALBANIA). First prize Will Devison, Shaldon, Devon Runners-up Don Thompson, Bolton; Phillip Wickens, Faygate, W. Sussex
Each of the unclued lights contained the name of a bird (i.e. which was CAGED). First prize G. MacLennan, Lancaster Runners-up Alan Pink, Crowhurst, East Sussex; Elaine Galloway, London SE6
In Ian Fleming’s DR NO (35D) JAMES BOND (21D) orders a MEDIUM VODKA (20A, 29D) DRY MARTINI (7A, 13A),SHAKEN (12D) and NOT STIRRED (19D) First prize Valerie Fish, Whittlesey, Cambs Runners-up Paul Billington, Blackburn, Lancashire; Mike Carter, Kirkby Overblow, Harrogate
Eight entries possess ‘titular properties’ in two ways. First, they are unclued! Second, they, as per the title CLUE.LESS.NESS, can all be divided into three-word charades: COMP.UTERI.SING, TRIST.RAMS.HANDY, SCRUB.BING.BOARD, ENIGMA.TIC.ALLY, BLESS.THIS.HOUSE, SEVER.ALF.OLD, GRAVE.YARD.SHIFT and DISC.OUR.SING. First prize Leslie Verth, Newton Mearns, Glasgow Runners-up J.E. Green, St Albans, Herts; Sue Pounder, Ashton under Lyne, Greater Manchester
The unclued lights reveal the titles of six Westerns: 1A, 1D/38/26, 18/5/43, 20/11, 23 and 45/24. First prize Basia Jones, London WC1 Runners-up Michael Crapper, Whitchurch, Hants; Geoff Hollas, London W12
Unclued lights are cats of noted people and in literature and popular culture and feature in the same entry in Brewer, p242/243 20th edition. First prize Mike Whiteoak, Barkingside, Ilford Runners-up Sue Topham, Elston, Nottinghamshire; Francis Wheen, Pleshey, Essex
The quotation, taken from the King James BIBLE (Matt. 6.29; Luke 12.27), is ‘SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY WAS NOT ARRAYED LIKE ONE OF THESE’. The three unclued lights are types of lily: ARUM (16D), FRITILLARY (17D) and TIGER (31D). First prize Peter Hampton, Wimborne, Dorset Runners-up Maureen Quarmby, Oldham; Sue Dyson, Stockport, Cheshire